Stress Overview
Stress is a natural physiological and psychological response to challenging or demanding situations. It’s your body’s way of preparing to deal with perceived threats or pressures. While some stress can be motivating and helpful, excessive or chronic stress can have detrimental effects on your physical and mental health.
Signs & Symptoms
Stress can manifest in a wide range of ways, affecting you physically, emotionally, and behaviorally:
- Headaches
- Muscle tension or pain
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Digestive problems (stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea)
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Weakened immune system
- Irritability and anger
- Anxiety and worry
- Sadness and depression
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Changes in appetite (overeating or undereating)
- Increased substance use (alcohol, drugs, nicotine)
- Social withdrawal
- Procrastination
- Difficulty making decisions
Causes
- Major life changes: Job loss, divorce, moving, illness, or death of a loved one.
- Daily hassles: Traffic jams, work deadlines, financial worries, or relationship conflicts.
- Work-related stress: Heavy workload, long hours, job insecurity, or difficult coworkers.
- Trauma: Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
- Chronic illness: Managing a chronic health condition.
- Financial problems: Debt, unemployment, or financial insecurity.
- Relationship problems: Conflicts with family, friends, or romantic partners.
Managing Stress
- Identify your stressors: Recognize the situations or events that trigger your stress.
- Develop coping strategies: Learn healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation), mindfulness, and spending time in nature.
- Build a support network: Connect with friends, family, or support groups.
- Set realistic expectations: Avoid overcommitting yourself and prioritize tasks.
- Practice time management: Organize your time effectively to reduce feelings of overwhelm.
- Take breaks: Schedule regular breaks throughout the day to relax and recharge.
- Prioritize self-care: Engage in activities that you enjoy and that promote relaxation and well-being.
- Seek professional help: If stress is causing significant problems in your life, consider therapy or stress management programs.
A List of Adult Mental Health Issues We Treat at Sullivan & Associates
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive seeking and use of a substance or engagement in a behavior, despite harmful consequences. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or socioeconomic status. Addiction can involve various substances, such as alcohol, drugs, or even behaviors like gambling or gaming.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. It’s a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, learns, and behaves. It is called a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for 3 months or longer. It can be constant or intermittent, and it can occur anywhere in the body. Unlike acute pain, which is a normal sensation that alerts us to injury or illness, chronic pain persists even after the body has healed. It can significantly interfere with daily life, affecting physical functioning, emotional well-being, and social interactions.
Depression is more than just feeling sad or down. It’s a persistent mood disorder that affects your thoughts, feelings, behavior, and physical health. It can interfere with your daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.
Disordered eating encompasses a range of abnormal eating behaviors that can significantly impact your physical and mental health. It can include restrictive dieting, binge eating, purging, excessive exercise, and an unhealthy preoccupation with food and body image. While not always meeting the full criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder, disordered eating can still cause significant distress and impairment in your life.
Emotion regulation refers to the ability to effectively manage and respond to your emotions in a healthy and adaptive way. It involves recognizing, understanding, and accepting your emotions, as well as having the skills to modulate their intensity and expression when needed.
Grief is a natural and inevitable response to loss, most often associated with the death of a loved one. However, grief can also be experienced with any significant loss, such as the loss of a relationship, job, health, or even a cherished dream. It is an individual and deeply personal process, with no right or wrong way to grieve.
Inattention and motor restlessness refer to difficulties with sustaining focus, remaining still, and controlling impulsive actions. These challenges can impact academic performance, work productivity, relationships, and overall well-being. While often associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), they can also occur in other conditions or independently.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adults face unique challenges and experiences throughout their lives. While societal acceptance and legal protections have progressed in many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ individuals still encounter discrimination, prejudice, and stigma that can significantly impact their mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that trigger intensely distressing feelings. These obsessions are often followed by repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event.
Psychosis is a mental health condition that affects a person’s ability to perceive and interpret reality. It can involve a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Psychosis can be a symptom of various mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression.
Relationship issues are a common experience, affecting romantic partnerships, friendships, family relationships, and professional connections. These issues can arise from a variety of sources, including communication problems, differing values, unmet needs, life transitions, and external stressors. While occasional disagreements and challenges are normal, persistent or severe relationship issues can lead to significant distress and impact overall well-being.
Learn MoreLearn About Family IssuesLearn About Parenting Issues
Sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being. When sleep is consistently disrupted, it can lead to a variety of problems. Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough restful sleep. This can lead to daytime fatigue, impaired concentration, mood disturbances, and other health problems.
Trauma is an emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and alters their sense of security. The impact of trauma can be long-lasting and affect various aspects of your life.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. TBIs range in severity from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury).